Automobile

pain's 'Rolls Royce' favoured by monarchs and aristocracy

A luxury car brand once hailed as Spain's equivalent to Rolls Royce or Bentley and a favourite of the royal family is wowing critics with a new design that it hopes will restore the brand's global reputation.

Hispano Suiza's 'Carmen' is a lightweight supercar that's largely built from carbon fibre and powered entirely by electricity.

The supercar costs £1.3m، has 1،005 bhp and can accelerate to 62mph in under three seconds with a top speed of 155mph.

The model shown at the Geneva Motor Show last week is the first production vehicle from the firm - who rose to popularity in the Roaring Twenties - since its original incarnation went bust in 1968.According to its makers، the 4.7m-long، two-seater Carmen is aimed at the emerging 'hyperlux' market، which combines hypercar performance with top-end levels of luxury.

The Carmen uses batteries used in Formula E، a motor racing division that uses only electric-powered cars - to produce all the of energy in its rear wheels، with the speed electronically limited at 155mph.

'We limit the top speed because we don't think there's sense in any more'، said Technical director Luci Marti who spoke to Top Gear.

The car weighs in at just 1،690kg، made possible by lightweight material in the interior and carbonfibre in its frames.

According to Hispano Suiza، the new model is said to be one of the most 'carbonfibre-intense cars in the world'.